AKRON, Ohio — Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company has opened the nomination window for the 38th annual Highway Hero Award, a program that recognizes professional drivers who demonstrate exceptional courage and selflessness while operating on North American roadways. The deadline for submitting a story about a qualifying act of bravery is set for December 31, marking the final day for carriers, peers, and the public to highlight individuals who went above the call of duty during the 2022 calendar year.

The Highway Hero Award, first established in 1983, serves as a long-standing industry benchmark for ethical conduct and emergency response within the trucking sector. Unlike standard safety awards that focus on accident-free records, this specific recognition targets instances where a driver actively intervened to protect life or property, often at personal risk. The program emphasizes that the nominee must be a full-time professional residing in the United States or Canada, ensuring the award remains focused on the dedicated workforce that keeps the supply chain moving across both nations.

Eligibility criteria for the 2023 cycle require that the nominated incident occurred strictly between January 1 and December 31, 2022. The vehicle involved in the heroic act must have been a truck equipped with 12 wheels or more, a specification that aligns the award with the heavy-hauling transport sector. Goodyear is currently accepting submissions through an online portal where the narrative of the event is detailed, allowing judges to assess the severity of the situation and the driver's decision-making process under pressure.

What This Means for Drivers

For CDL-A drivers and owner-operators, the Highway Hero Award offers a tangible reward for split-second decisions that prioritize human safety over schedule adherence. The grand prize recipient will receive a significant monetary reward, custom merchandise, and an all-expenses-paid trip to Orlando, Florida, to attend the 2023 Technology & Maintenance Council annual meeting. This event provides a rare opportunity for a single driver to engage with top-tier transportation technology and industry leaders, a benefit that extends beyond the immediate financial gain. Two additional finalists will also be named, receiving their own recognition and prize packages, which increases the odds for nominees who performed well but may not have secured the top spot.

Industry Reaction

The trucking industry has consistently supported the Highway Hero Award as a necessary counterbalance to the public perception of drivers as mere cargo movers. Fleet managers and safety directors often view such awards as critical tools for morale, encouraging a culture where helping a stranded motorist or intervening in a roadside emergency is celebrated rather than penalized for time loss. As FMCSA regulations continue to tighten on hours of service and safety compliance, the award underscores that the core of professional driving remains rooted in human judgment and compassion, not just regulatory adherence. Many trucking companies hiring new talent point to such programs as evidence that the profession still carries significant prestige and community respect.

Key Points

• Nominations for the 38th Goodyear Highway Hero Award close on December 31, 2023.
• Eligible incidents must have occurred between January 1 and December 31, 2022.
• The nominated driver must have been operating a truck with 12 or more wheels at the time of the event.
• Winners receive cash, custom prizes, and an invitation to the TMC annual meeting in Orlando.

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